How many of you have ever had a deep longing for the ‘good ole days’?

And what time period would actually qualify, for you at least, as the good old days? If there really was such a thing as time machines and you could go back in time, what year(s) would you dial it in for? And why? What if it was only for a short stay or visit to that time era, just to get a ‘feel’ for what things were like back then...where/when would you want to visit?

For me, I would like to go back and see what it was like in the early days of the church’s inception, maybe just after Jesus rose from the dead and spending time with those disciples who got to spend time with Him, eat with Him and hear His parting words before He left. Then...hang around for when all that glory began to fall on them as people were being filled with His Spirit and revival broke out as thousands were coming to know the Lord.

I mean...really...if we want to study church history...why not just go back to when it all began and see the Book of Acts come to life. I have a feeling that ‘church life’ back then differed greatly than what we see and experience today; don’t you?

One only needs to read through the first eight chapters of Acts before you can easily identify various aspects that existed in the early days of the church that is lacking today. You know, things like the unity that existed among those believers. (Acts 2:1,42-47; 4:32-35;5:12-14)

And how about all those signs and wonders and miracles of healing and demonic deliverance that was taking place? (Acts 2:43; 3:6-11;5:12-16;8:4-4). Why they didn’t even need doctors and hospitals to help them get well either.

Do you know what else existed among those early believers back in the ‘the day’?

Fear. Great fear. The fear of the Lord spread quickly among them. (Acts 2:43;5:5,11;9:31). In fact, the fear of the Lord was so prevalent that ‘outsiders’ gave serious thought before ‘joining’ the church given what they were witnessing. (Acts 5:13). Do you know why folks were a bit hesitant to join in on all the excitement? It was pretty clear that God was dealing with sin in the ‘church’, and in dramatic fashion. You might say that God was wanting to make a point early on that He means what He says.

I have made the case over time here that there are some pretty strong misconceptions that exists in many of our ‘church’ teachings today. This should come as no surprise given how much warning we were given that there would be widespread deception in the last days with people no longer ‘enduring sound doctrine’, and would be ‘carried away by doctrines taught by demons’ and how there would be a plethora of ‘other gospels’ to buy in to. (Matt. 24:4-5, 1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Cor. 11:3-4). Paul alluded to there being a great ‘falling away’ from the faith that would usher in the man of lawlessness. (2 Thess. 2:3-12)

And one of the great ‘lies’ that many have embraced today in the modern ‘church’ world is this idea that God no longer ‘judges sin’. I’ve heard renowned pastors/preachers attempt to build the case that because Jesus died on the cross for all past, present, and future sins, incurring the wrath of God’s judgement for all the world, that somehow we no longer need to be concerned with being ‘judged’ ...for our sins. Now they might be quick, or not so quick, to add that there are still ‘consequences’ for sin; but let’s not go overboard and think God still judges sin given what Jesus did for us on the cross. Um, what’s the difference? Judgment = consequences, yes? (Eph. 5:5-6)

Friends – are you familiar with the incident that opens up Acts 5, where the people had been taking up offerings and collections to be distributed among those early believers in need? A married couple, Ananias and Sapphira decided to make a donation, but kept back a part of the proceedings. We don’t know the full extent of their plans or intentions but it appears they wanted everyone to think they ‘gave it all’ when in fact, they didn’t. Was it greed or pride at work here? Perhaps both; but they sure did not fool God.

Peter was immediately made aware of the intentions of their heart as the Holy Spirit revealed it to him. (Acts 5:3-4). He then accused them of ‘lying to God’ and down went Ananias who ‘breathed his last breath’ and died. Three hours later, when his wife showed up, it was the same story, second verse and down she went. Both were carried out and buried. (5:7-10)

This is where we then read: “So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.” (5,11)

What I think is interesting is comparing this incident that reveals how God deals with sin with an earlier indecent found in the book of Joshua, chapter 7. Perhaps you are familiar with the sin of Achan who tried to conceal his disobedience from everyone, including God. His ignorance on the matter had devastating consequences not only for him, and his family, but it also spilled over and affected the people around him. “Your sin will surely find you out!” (Numbers 32:23)

This example of swift and harsh judgment occurred early on as God was leading the people in to this promised land where He could bless them and their descendants. What was the message behind this action? God means what He says. (Deut. 5:29). So one might conclude that God really has not changed, and for good reason: He doesn’t need to – We do! We need to change. As in, it is not an option.

Look how Paul addressed the issue of sin that was taking place at the church there in Corinth. A man was involved in an immoral relationship (1 Cor. 5) and the people were somewhat passive in confronting it. Perhaps they had already erected signs around where they met that said “Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven”; or maybe lovely invites to the locals with a catchy slogan like “No Perfect People Allowed Here”.

Paul was not impressed. It seems the people were a bit puffed up over their ‘’loving nature, maybe non-judgmental tolerance’ towards sin, to which Paul rebuked them for – “Your glorying is not good.” (6). Then he gives the reason why: “Don’t you know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?” He would later make the same point in Galatians 5:9, how sin can spread and affect others. Oh, you might want to highlight Heb. 3:12-13 too.

But when sin is dealt with in a biblical way (Matt. 18:15-17; Gal. 6:1-3) it then creates space for God to come in and confirm His word and bless His people.

You might note there in 1 Cor. 5:5 what Paul advised: “Hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of his flesh so that his spirit might be saved”. And guess what? It worked. (2 Cor. 2:3-11). When the church body remains ‘pure’ it keeps the blessings of God upon it. Now I realize how that is no small ‘speed bump’ for you to process here because we tend to excuse our churches as nothing more than a group of vile, wretched, imperfect and flawed sinners ‘saved by grace’ just trying to do better until we all get to heaven. But like I suggested at the start...today’s churches look nothing like what we saw in the early days of its inception.  My fear is we tend to 'celebrate our sin nature' more than we do celebrating the victory we have in Jesus to overcome ALL sin. (Matt. 5:48; John 8:32-36)

After Ananias and his wife were dealt with (nipping sin in the bud, maybe?)...look what followed: great fear fell upon all who heard...many signs and wonders and healings took place...there was unity among the believers...outsiders were not so quick to jump in to be a part given what they had witnessed or heard about...and sick people and demon possessed people were being healed (all were healed) and set free.” (Acts 5:11-16). Are we seeing much of that in our services today? Or do we just hear good preaching and singing?

If I was to point to one underlying ‘fault’ that has contributed to the demise and powerlessness of the church today, it would be that we embraced and believed the lie that we believers cannot be set free from sin; and therefore we remains slaves to sin according to what Jesus taught us in John 8:34. But those who were abiding in Christ back then had dealt with their sinful, flesh nature (Gal. 5:24; Rom. 6:1-10) and were ‘walking just as Christ walked” (1 John 2:6) and ‘no longer continued to practice sin’ (1 John 3:6) because they had truly been ‘born of God’ (1 John 3:9) which is why the ‘wicked one could not touch them’. (1 John 5:18)

Something we have seemed to forgotten...is not only are the wages of sin still ‘death’, (Rom. 6:23), but sin still separates us from God. (Isa. 59:2) When Jesus healed that afflicted man in John 5, look what He told him afterwards: “Go and sin no more or something worse will happen to you.” (14). What on earth do you think He meant by that? Sin gives place to the devil (Eph. 4:27) and we know what he comes to do: (John 10:10)

You want to mention how nothing can ‘separate us from the love of God’ and that Jesus will ‘never leave us or forsake us’? Well, once again those promises are good to those who continue to abide in Him...and guess what? Those who do...no longer practice sin. (1 John 3:6). 

The biggest challenge many in the church face today is not overcoming sin...but accepting the truth and believing they can walk in the freedom that Jesus paid on the cross in order to set us free from sin.